According to research out of the University of Chicago, companies rely on labor flexibility to control costs. That means that employees could be called in or sent home with little to no warning, hurting their ability to plan their finances and their lives.

That puts significant strain on workers, particularly those with families, said Sejal Parikh, executive director of Working Washington, an organization that advocates for workers’ rights.

“One of our fast food workers, she gets her schedule on Sunday for the following Monday, and she doesn’t know what kind of child care she can provide for her family,” Parikh told the committee.

About Working Washington: Our mission is to build a powerful workers’ movement that can not only dramatically improve wages and working conditions, but can also change the local and national conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work. More info…

Our mission is to build a powerful workers’ movement that can not only dramatically improve wages and working conditions, but can also change the local and national conversation about wealth, inequality, and the value of work.

Working Washington fast food strikers sparked the fight that won Seattle's landmark $15 minimum wage. We drove Amazon to sever ties with right-wing lobby group ALEC and improve conditions in their sweatshop warehouses. And we helped lead the winning campaign in SeaTac for a $15 living wage.